Rose-Hulman hires Chicago assistant

Jeff Sokol has been named the 17th head coach in the 117-year
history of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology football, effective
Jan. 3.

Sokol comes to Rose-Hulman after spending the past 11 seasons as
offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at
Chicago. He will be introduced to the Rose-Hulman and Wabash
Valley communities in a news conference on Jan. 3.

He replaces Jayson Martin, who coached Rose-Hulman to a 6-4
finish this past season as an interim replacement for Steve
Englehart, who departed in August to take an assistant’s job
at Indiana State.

The Maroons captured UAA championships in 2000, 2005 and 2010,
while recording three runner-up league finishes during his 11 years
as coordinator under coach Dick Maloney.

Sokol's efforts included recruiting planning and coordination at
the internationally regarded academic institution as well as
managing the offensive staff, creating the weekly scouting report,
executing all game-day play calls and serving as the team’s
strength coach for five years.

Prior to his Chicago experience, Sokol spent one season at
fellow UAA member Case Western Reserve as the recruiting
coordinator and defensive backs coach. He also spent two
seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Defiance and one year as
wide receivers coach at Kalamazoo.

"Jeff has spent the biggest part of his coaching career at
quality schools in Chicago and Case Western, allowing him to
quickly adapt to the academics here at Rose-Hulman. He has paid his
dues and is now ready to be a head coach in charge of his own
program. He has a strong recruiting background and will be
comfortable recruiting the type of player we need to be successful
at Rose-Hulman," said athletic director Jeff Jenkins.

Chicago established a modern era school record with eight wins
in 2010, including victories over Case Western Reserve and
Washington U. to win the league championship. The team's 13
victories in the last two years mark the most in the modern era of
Chicago football.

Sokol earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Kalamazoo in
1996 and completed a master's degree in education from Defiance in
1999. He inherits a Rose-Hulman program that has recorded
five consecutive winning seasons for the first time since
1986-90.